AMONG 43 WORLDWIDE
Bacolod No. 6 in web vote
for wonder cities
BY CHRYSEE SAMILLANO

Bacolod City is one of the contenders in the selection of the New Seven Wonder Cities of the world.

Known as the City of Smiles, Bacolod got the sixth slot for Philippine urban cities grouped with Southeast Asia and Oceania cities as of March 12.

There are 303 cities vying for the top 77 which will be serially pruned down to 28, 21, 14 (finalists) and then to the final seven, via internet and text message voting.

Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia is urging Bacoleños to unite in achieving the vision of making the home of the MassKara Festival a premier city. Being Number Six in the list of 43 cities worldwide, he said, is itself already something to be proud about.

A bigger home where abused children can seek refuge and hide from their abusers has risen in Bacolod City.

The home has 30 children, many  of whom have been abused,   but it  now has the capacity for 40, Kalipay Negrense Foundation Inc. president Anna Balcells said yesterday.

The old Haven House–A Kalipay Home building at Fuentebella Subdivision in Bacolod City that was run down and being eaten by termites  has been torn down and a new one that can accommodate more children has been built by KNFI with a hefty donation from  her philanthropist friend from Manila who asked not to be named, Balcells said.

The arrested suspect in the recent P2 million armed robbery and murder incidents in Kabankalan City, is facing additional charges for illegal possession of firearms and violation of RA 9165, also known as the Comprehensive Drug Act of 2002.

This was after a .45 caliber pistol with ammunition and two sachets of suspected shabu were recovered from robbery-hold-up and murder suspect Bonifacio Galagate Jr. during his arrest Friday in Brgy. 4, Kabankalan City, police chief Supt. Calixto Mabugat said.

Galagate and his companion still at-large, Richard Gonzales, were charged for robbery with homicide, after they allegedly robbed at gunpoint an employee of a sugar trader of P2 million, and shot dead her escort, Celso Cari-an.